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US20200240247A1 - Perforating gun with novel charge tube assembly - Google Patents

Perforating gun with novel charge tube assembly Download PDF

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Publication number
US20200240247A1
US20200240247A1 US16/482,652 US201816482652A US2020240247A1 US 20200240247 A1 US20200240247 A1 US 20200240247A1 US 201816482652 A US201816482652 A US 201816482652A US 2020240247 A1 US2020240247 A1 US 2020240247A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
endplate
charge tube
section
seats
opening
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US16/482,652
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English (en)
Inventor
Timothy E. LaGrange
Jeffrey D. GARTZ
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Owen Oil Tools LP
Original Assignee
Owen Oil Tools LP
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Owen Oil Tools LP filed Critical Owen Oil Tools LP
Priority to US16/482,652 priority Critical patent/US20200240247A1/en
Assigned to OWEN OIL TOOLS LP reassignment OWEN OIL TOOLS LP ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: GARTZ, JEFFREY D., LAGRANGE, TIMOTHY E.
Publication of US20200240247A1 publication Critical patent/US20200240247A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
    • E21B43/11—Perforators; Permeators
    • E21B43/119—Details, e.g. for locating perforating place or direction

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to devices and method for perforating a subterranean formation.
  • Hydrocarbons such as oil and gas
  • Hydrocarbons are produced from cased wellbores intersecting one or more hydrocarbon reservoirs in a formation. These hydrocarbons flow into the wellbore through perforations in the cased wellbore.
  • Perforations are usually made using a perforating gun loaded with shaped charges. The gun is lowered into the wellbore on electric wireline, slickline, tubing, coiled tubing, or other conveyance device until it is adjacent to the hydrocarbon producing formation. Thereafter, a surface signal actuates a firing head associated with the perforating gun, which then detonates the shaped charges. Projectiles or jets formed by the explosion of the shaped charges penetrate the casing to thereby allow formation fluids to flow through the perforations and into a production string.
  • a perforating gun is assembled by affixing a detonating cord to one or more shaped charges disposed along a charge tube assembly.
  • Prior art charge tube assemblies use threaded connections or plastically deformable members to affix endplates to a charge tube. Such arrangements may be costly and time consuming to manufacture and assemble.
  • the present disclosure provides an apparatus for use with a perforating gun.
  • the perforating gun may have a tubular carrier, a charge tube, and an endplate.
  • the charge tube is disposed in the carrier.
  • the charge tube has a wall, a lower end, an upper opening formed proximate to the lower end, and a lower opening formed proximate to the lower end.
  • the endplate engages the charge tube with the carrier.
  • the endplate has a central insert formed by an upper section projecting from a lower section, wherein the upper section seats in the upper opening of the lower end and the second section seats in the lower opening of the lower end.
  • the present disclosure provides a method for using a perforating gun in a wellbore.
  • the perforating gun has a tubular carrier, a charge tube, and an endplate.
  • the method includes the step of forming the perforating the perforating gun and conveying the perforating gun into the wellbore. The forming may be done by at least by laterally engaging the endplate with the charge tube.
  • FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a side sectional view of a perforating gun according to one embodiment of the present disclosure
  • FIG. 2 schematically illustrates an isometric exploded view of a charge tube assembly according to one embodiment of the present disclosure
  • FIG. 3 schematically illustrates an isometric assembled view of the FIG. 2 embodiment
  • FIG. 4 schematically illustrates an sectional side view of the FIG. 2 embodiment.
  • the present disclosure relates to devices and methods for facilitating the assembly and enhancing the reliability of wellbore perforating tools.
  • the present disclosure is susceptible to embodiments of different forms. There are shown in the drawings, and herein will be described in detail, specific embodiments of the present disclosure with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the disclosure, and is not intended to limit the disclosure to that illustrated and described herein.
  • the perforating gun 100 may include a tubular carrier 102 that is shaped to receive a charge tube assembly 104 .
  • the charge tube assembly 104 may be positioned inside the carrier 102 in a telescopic fashion.
  • the charge tube assembly 104 includes a charge tube 108 , a upper endplate 110 , and a lower endplate 112 .
  • the endplates 110 , 112 may be used to align the charge tube 108 relative to the carrier 102 .
  • This alignment may be a relative circumferential and/or axial alignment.
  • the endplates 110 , 112 may also be used to maintain a predetermined annular gap between the charge tube 108 and the carrier 102 .
  • the ends of the charge tube 108 have openings that receive engagement members formed on the endplates 110 , 112 as described in greater detail below.
  • the charge tube 108 may be a tubular member having a upper end 114 and a lower end 116 .
  • Each end 114 , 116 includes upper and lower openings 118 , 120 and 122 , 124 , respectively, that penetrate through a wall 109 of the charge tube 108 .
  • the openings 118 , 120 and 122 , 124 may be positioned to be closer to the ends 114 , 116 than a mid-point of the charge tube 108 .
  • the upper endplate 110 may be shaped as a disk or circular plate and formed of a suitable material such as steel.
  • the upper endplate 110 has a central insert 130 that is bracketed by opposing wings 132 . Spaces 134 separate the insert 130 and the wings 132 .
  • the central insert 130 may be a platen member having a perimeter defined by sides and edges in order to perform selected functions.
  • the central insert 130 may have an upper section 136 that projects from a lower section 138 .
  • the upper section 136 is sized to be closely received in the opening 120 of the upper end 114 .
  • the lower section 138 is sized to be closely received in the opening 118 of the upper end 114 .
  • the sections 136 and 138 have different widths, but in other arrangements they may have the same widths.
  • the wings 132 extend partially around the outer surface of charge tube 108 and include one or more projections 140 that project radially inwardly. Each projection 140 seats within a complementary medial opening 142 formed at the upper end 114 .
  • the wings 132 may be sufficiently elastically deformable in order to bend radially outward while the upper endplate 110 is being connected with the upper end 114 and then contract to allow each projection 140 to seat within the adjacent opening 142 .
  • the flexibility of the wings 132 generates a gripping force that fixes the upper endplate 110 to the upper end 114 . While a minimal or nominal amount of plastic deformation may occur, it is principally or mostly the elastic deformation that provides the gripping force.
  • the lower endplate 112 may also be shaped as a disk or circular plate and formed of a suitable metal such as steel or non-metal such as plastic.
  • the lower endplate 112 has a central insert 160 that is bracketed by opposing wings 162 . Spaces 164 separate the insert 160 and the wings 162 .
  • the central insert 160 may have an upper section 166 that projects from a lower section 168 .
  • the central insert 160 may be a platen member having a perimeter defined by sides and edges in order to perform selected functions.
  • the upper section 166 is sized to be closely received in the opening 124 of the lower end 116 .
  • the lower section 168 is sized to be closely received in the opening 122 of the lower end 116 .
  • the wings 162 extend partially around the outer surface of charge tube 108 and include one or more projections 170 at or near a terminal end 173 . Each projection 170 seats within a complementary medial opening 172 formed at the lower end 116 . As discussed previously, the wings 162 may be sufficiently elastically deformable in order to expand while the upper endplate 110 is being connected with the lower end 116 and then contract to allow each projection 170 to seat within the adjacent opening 172 .
  • first and the second plates 110 , 112 may be formed as an integral body; e.g., formed out of one solid body.
  • the first and lower endplates 110 , 112 may include variations that allow each to have different behavior or functionality.
  • the wings 132 of the upper endplate 110 may be radially thinner than the wings 162 of the lower endplate 112 .
  • the wings 132 can more easily flex radially than the wings 162 .
  • the relatively thicker wings 162 makes the lower endplate 112 a more rigid structure.
  • the greater flexure of the endplate 110 allows the wings 132 to apply a gripping force sufficient to fix the endplate 110 to the charge tube 108 .
  • the greater rigidity of the lower endplate 112 allows the lower endplate 112 to act as an orienting structure for the charge tube assembly 104 .
  • the lower endplate 104 may include a key 180 formed on the second section 166 .
  • the key 180 may be a protrusion that slides along a keyway (not shown) formed along an inner surface of the carrier 102 .
  • the carrier 102 may include scallops 181 , which are reduced wall sections. Each shaped charge of such a gun arrangement is aimed at a scallop 181 . By reducing the thickness of the metal through which a perforating jet formed by the shaped charges must pass, the effectiveness of the perforating jet is enhanced.
  • the key 180 and complementary keyway arrangement may be used to appropriately align the charge tube assembly 104 with the scallops of the carrier 102 .
  • a connecting mechanism may be used to secure the charge tube 104 to the carrier 102 .
  • the securing member 190 may be formed as an annular C-shaped body that includes a first connector 192 and a second connector 194 .
  • the first and second connectors 192 , 194 may be formed as hooks, fingers, tabs, or other suitable projections.
  • the lower endplate 112 may include a groove 196 for receiving the first connector 192 and the top section 166 of the endplate 112 may include a slot 198 for receiving the second connector 194 .
  • the first and second connectors 192 , 194 may be formed complementary to the slot 196 and groove 198 , respectively.
  • the slot 196 and the groove 198 are merely non-limiting examples of openings, recesses, cavities, and other structural formations that may be used to physically engage with the securing member 190 .
  • the first connector 192 nests within the slot 196 and the second connector 194 nests within the groove 198 .
  • the first connector 192 has a flexible end 193 extends radially beyond the diameter of the lower endplate 112 when relaxed.
  • the flexible end 193 may be a tab, coil, bar, or other body or member that can flex radially outward and be compressed radially inward.
  • the flexible end 193 rests within a groove 210 formed on an inner surface 212 of the carrier 102 .
  • the flexible end 193 is compressed from the relaxed state to the compressed state upon contacting a shoulder 214 formed near a bore opening 216 .
  • the flexible end 193 flexes outward into the groove 210 , which then fixes the charge tube assembly 104 to the carrier 102 .
  • the first and the lower endplates 110 , 112 may incorporate structural differences that prevent the first and the lower endplates 110 , 112 from being inadvertently switched during assembly.
  • the central insert 130 of the upper endplate 110 may include a recess 131 ( FIG. 2 ) in which a bar 121 ( FIG. 3 ) seats.
  • the bar 121 may be a bridging member that divides the opening 120 into two sections. Because the central insert 160 of the lower endplate 112 does not have a recess, the lower endplate 112 cannot be completely connected to the upper end 114 . It should be understood that other variations in structural geometry may also be used in lieu of or in addition to the recess 131 and the bar 121 .
  • some embodiments of the present disclosure may use only one endplate.
  • the upper endplate 110 may be eliminated and replaced with a spacer 218 .
  • the spacer 218 may be a ring, collar, sleeve, or other spacing member that supports and centers the upper end 114 of the charge tube 108 .
  • the spacer 218 may be formed integrally with the carrier 102 .
  • the endplates 110 , 112 may also include other features such as bores 210 and 212 for receiving a detonating cord retainer (not shown) and/or to accommodate equipment such as bearings, sleeves, electrical connections, etc.
  • the charge tube 108 may include openings 214 for receiving shaped charges (not shown).
  • the endplates 110 , 112 are installed by inserting the endplates 110 , 112 in a direction that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis 113 of the charge tube 108 .
  • Endplate 110 is inserted laterally through holes 118 and 120 and endplate 112 is inserted laterally through holes 122 and 124 .
  • the projections 140 of wings 132 engage the adjacent opening 142 and the projections 170 of wings 162 engage the adjacent opening 172 .
  • the securing member 190 is attached by inserting the first connector 192 into the slot 196 and inserting the second connector 194 into the groove 198 .
  • portions of the wall 109 of the charge tube 108 are securely seated in the spaces 134 and 164 of the first and lower endplates 110 , 112 , respectively.
  • the charge tube assembly 104 may be inserted into the carrier 102 .
  • the flexible end 193 flexes outward into the groove 210 , which then fixes the charge tube assembly 104 to the carrier 102 .
  • the charge tube assembly of the present disclosure has several advantages over the prior art.
  • the charge tube and the endplates are threadless.
  • threadless it is meant that there are no threaded connections used to connect the charge tube with the endplates.
  • the charge tube and the endplates use only elastic engagement.
  • elastic engagement it is meant that the material making up the endplates and charge tube are deformed only within their elastic range. No feature of the charge tube or the endplates are plastically deformed in order to form a principal means of a connection.
  • the teachings of the present disclosure may be used in connection with a perforating gun system at a well construction and/or hydrocarbon production facility positioned over subterranean formations of interest.
  • the facility can be a land-based or offshore rig adapted to drill, complete, or service the wellbore.
  • the facility can include known equipment and structures such as a platform at the earth's surface, a wellhead, and casing.
  • a work string suspended within the well bore is used to convey tooling into and out of the wellbore.
  • the work string can include coiled tubing injected by a coiled tubing injector.
  • Other work strings can include tubing, drill pipe, wire line, slick line, or any other known conveyance means.
  • the work string can include telemetry lines or other signal/power transmission mediums that establish one-way or two-way telemetric communication from the surface to a tool connected to an end of the work string.
  • a suitable telemetry system can be known types as mud pulse, electrical signals, acoustic, or other suitable systems.
  • a surface control unit e.g., a power source and/or firing panel can be used to monitor and/or operate tooling connected to the work string.
  • the perforating gun may be assembled as described above. Thereafter, the perforating gun is coupled to an end of the work string.
  • An exemplary gun train includes one or more guns or gun sets, each of which includes perforating shaped charges. The perforating gun is conveyed into the wellbore and positioned as desired, and then fired.

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Prostheses (AREA)
  • Electrostatic Spraying Apparatus (AREA)
  • Apparatus Associated With Microorganisms And Enzymes (AREA)
US16/482,652 2017-03-27 2018-03-27 Perforating gun with novel charge tube assembly Abandoned US20200240247A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US16/482,652 US20200240247A1 (en) 2017-03-27 2018-03-27 Perforating gun with novel charge tube assembly

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US201762477245P 2017-03-27 2017-03-27
PCT/US2018/024610 WO2018183360A1 (en) 2017-03-27 2018-03-27 Perforating gun with novel charge tube assembly
US16/482,652 US20200240247A1 (en) 2017-03-27 2018-03-27 Perforating gun with novel charge tube assembly

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20200240247A1 true US20200240247A1 (en) 2020-07-30

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US16/482,652 Abandoned US20200240247A1 (en) 2017-03-27 2018-03-27 Perforating gun with novel charge tube assembly

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US20200240247A1 (es)
EP (1) EP3565948A1 (es)
CN (1) CN110431283A (es)
AU (1) AU2018244304B2 (es)
CA (1) CA3053174C (es)
MX (1) MX2019009742A (es)
WO (1) WO2018183360A1 (es)

Families Citing this family (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA3044516A1 (en) * 2016-12-30 2018-07-05 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Modular charge holder segment
MX2022000246A (es) * 2019-08-21 2022-02-03 Owen Oil Tools Lp Pistola perforadora con modulo de detonacion.
US11215041B2 (en) 2019-12-10 2022-01-04 G&H Diversified Manufacturing Lp Modular perforating gun systems and methods
WO2021122797A1 (en) 2019-12-17 2021-06-24 DynaEnergetics Europe GmbH Modular perforating gun system
WO2021185749A1 (en) 2020-03-16 2021-09-23 DynaEnergetics Europe GmbH Tandem seal adapter with integrated tracer material
WO2021198145A1 (en) * 2020-03-30 2021-10-07 DynaEnergetics Europe GmbH Charge tube and centralizer for perforating gun
WO2022167297A1 (en) 2021-02-04 2022-08-11 DynaEnergetics Europe GmbH Perforating gun assembly with performance optimized shaped charge load
US11499401B2 (en) 2021-02-04 2022-11-15 DynaEnergetics Europe GmbH Perforating gun assembly with performance optimized shaped charge load

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN2483505Y (zh) * 2001-05-28 2002-03-27 大庆市让胡路区华采机械加工厂 一种油田用金属射孔弹架
CN2497042Y (zh) * 2001-08-17 2002-06-26 刘龙江 一种用于井下射孔的金属弹架
CA2356820C (en) * 2001-09-07 2006-11-14 Lri Oil Tools Inc. Charge tube assembly for a perforating gun
US20070084336A1 (en) * 2005-09-30 2007-04-19 Neves John A Charge tube end plate
CN201568033U (zh) * 2009-11-11 2010-09-01 西安通源石油科技股份有限公司 用于油气井复合射孔器的筒式装药装置
WO2016039734A1 (en) * 2014-09-10 2016-03-17 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Perforating gun with integrated retaining system
US10781675B2 (en) * 2014-09-10 2020-09-22 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Charge tube with self-locking alignment fixtures

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN110431283A (zh) 2019-11-08
EP3565948A1 (en) 2019-11-13
CA3053174A1 (en) 2018-10-04
MX2019009742A (es) 2019-10-07
WO2018183360A1 (en) 2018-10-04
CA3053174C (en) 2021-01-26
AU2018244304B2 (en) 2020-07-09
AU2018244304A1 (en) 2019-08-22

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AS Assignment

Owner name: OWEN OIL TOOLS LP, TEXAS

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:LAGRANGE, TIMOTHY E.;GARTZ, JEFFREY D.;REEL/FRAME:052645/0657

Effective date: 20200131

STPP Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general

Free format text: NON FINAL ACTION MAILED

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION